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Monday, August 01, 2011

Back From The Vet

We ended up not doing any tests at the vet's today. Based on how the mass has shifted shape and location and because its not responding to antibiotics, the vet said the only real option is surgery to remove the mass and do a biopsy. Its possible the mass could be the result of a fungus or a foreign body entering the duct. The surgery will allow him to follow the duct to the mass and find a foreign body (if there is one) and do a lumpectomy. The biopsy will show if the mass is the result of a fungus. Unfortunately, the vet thinks the most likely cause of the mass is mammary cancer. If it is, the biopsy will tell us what type of cancer, and what we can expect. Doc said there’s three types of mammary cancer – bad, really bad, and really really bad. 50% of the dogs who have a lumpectomy are just fine afterwards and die years later from something unrelated. Of the remaining 50%, 25% may have a recurring tumor but no life threatening issues. In the last portion of dogs, its terminal. Doc is concerned enough about this that he's shifted his schedule to get her in surgery as quickly as possible. So, Monday the 8th is surgery, and we’ll hopefully have the biopsy results Friday the 12th. After that, we’ll see.

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

What a bummer! I pray everything turns out ok and that it is just a treatable fungus causing the problem. Hugs to you and Reyna.

Joanne & Keela (black Lab)

Anonymous said...

I'm praying and I know you are stressing!!! Just hang in there!!
Love, Mom